Created on 2023-08-16
Updated on 2023-12-15
Orthodontic treatment is a more or less long way to correct malposition of teeth and/or malocclusion. But are you aware that it does not end with the removal of brackets or aligners? One of its most important phases is the retention phase. That is to say, once finished, depending on the case of each patient, we place fixed or removable dental retainers. Their objective is to consolidate the movements made by the teeth, thus preventing them from moving back to their original position.
In this article, from our dental clinic in Barcelona, we explain which are the aspects that you should take into account to take care of your dental retainers properly. Take a good note!
What are the differences between fixed and removable retainers?
On the one hand, fixed retainers are a small metal bar that we place on the inside of the teeth to prevent them from moving again. During the first few days, they may cause minor intraoral discomfort that disappears after the adaptation period.
Removable retainers, on the other hand, are transparent dental splints tailored to the oral anatomy of each patient. In this case, these appliances should be placed in the mouth at night.
Tips for the retention phase of orthodontics
To keep your dental retainers in good condition, it is important that you keep in mind a series of tips:
- Maintain thorough oral hygiene, especially when wearing fixed retainers. Removable retainers, on the other hand, must be cleaned each time they are removed and replaced in the mouth. You can do it with a toothbrush, warm water and neutral soap. As a complement, you can use special tablets for splints and dentures for more in-depth hygiene.
- Use caution when removing removable retainers. Although they are particularly resistant, it is important to avoid breakage.
- Always keep retainers in their box. In this way, we can avoid its fracture or loss.
- Watch out for foods that are too hard, fibrous and sticky in the case of fixed retainers.
- If the retainer, whether fixed or removable, breaks, see your dentist urgently. It is important to continue to use these devices to prevent tooth movement.
If you want to start orthodontic treatment and/or have questions about the use of dental retainers, we can help you! You can contact us by phone at 93 272 48 30 (Barcelona) / 971 315 374 (Ibiza) or by leaving your details in the form on our website.
At IMOI Barcelona and IMOI Ibiza, we follow editorial principles that guarantee the authenticity of all the information we disseminate. If you are interested in learning more about how we ensure that our content is always up-to-date and accurately supported, we invite you to review our editorial commitment.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Ferran Novell Costa and Dr. Erjona Demiraj, specialists in Dental Health and Dental Aesthetics treatments. They are responsible for the treatments provided at IMOI Barcelona and IMOI Ibiza, and for supervising and/or updating the content of this blog post. (7/11/2023). The recommendations described are not generic and do not replace the diagnosis or assessment of a professional in a dental consultation. If you would like us to clarify any aspect, or if you would like a diagnosis and personalised advice, we recommend that you visit our dental clinics.
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